Week 10 Official Game Thread - NYG @ CHI, Nov 9th, 12PM CST, FOX, CHI -3

[adam]

The Bears are 5-3 playing at home (2-1), and the Giants are 2-7 (0-5 on the road), yet the Bears are only favored by 3? I fear that the refs will be heavily involved in this game. 

This shouldn't be a close game. Without Skattebo, the Giants leading rusher was Dart. So I would hope this makes it a little easier for the defense. I am going with Bears 30-17. 

[Pixote]

Dart has had some good games. Our defense tends to make average QBs MVP candidates.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

1 hour ago, adam said:

The Bears are 5-3 playing at home (2-1), and the Giants are 2-7 (0-5 on the road), yet the Bears are only favored by 3? I fear that the refs will be heavily involved in this game. 

This shouldn't be a close game. Without Skattebo, the Giants leading rusher was Dart. So I would hope this makes it a little easier for the defense. I am going with Bears 30-17. 

No Skattebo or Nabers. 

This will be a big test on the oline, NYG has one of the better front 7s. 

Caleb felt ghost pressure against Cincy, he will probably have real pressure next week.

[Stinger226]

Most all the games are going to go down to the wire. That's  where the Bears are right now until we are more consistent. We will find a way to win. Why I am optimistic is we are running the ball with great efficiently and we can score points. That will always keep us in the game. Caleb overall looked better today. He came thru at the end of the game with is huge. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

Most all the games are going to go down to the wire.

‘Winning ugly’ is just that. Earlier in the season we won by special teams (blocked FG and FG at the end of regulation).  Since then the wheels appear to be falling off the ST group . Winning against the 32nd ranked defense in the league is a confidence builder and they need to be ready and on the ball for when they play the Eagles and GB (2x) later in the season.  If they can come out at least 2-2 against Philly, GB and Detroit towards the end, there’s hope. Of course making up for the early loss to Minny would also be good. 

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

‘Winning ugly’ is just that. Earlier in the season we won by special teams (blocked FG and FG at the end of regulation).  Since then the wheels appear to be falling off the ST group . Winning against the 32nd ranked defense in the league is a confidence builder and they need to be ready and on the ball for when they play the Eagles and GB (2x) later in the season.  If they can come out at least 2-2 against Philly, GB and Detroit towards the end, there’s hope. Of course making up for the early loss to Minny would also be good. 

The most important thing that happened today is we found out no matter what bizarre stuff happens, we can still win a game. That what good teams win even when they shouldnt have. Not that we are a good team. 

[AZ54]

6 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

The most important thing that happened today is we found out no matter what bizarre stuff happens, we can still win a game. That what good teams win even when they shouldnt have. Not that we are a good team. 

Changing culture is hard but this is not the Bears we saw the last few years under Flus.  These guys are going to scratch and claw their way back into a game.  "Play 60" is the NFL mantra for kids to get out and play but it does describe this Bears team under Ben Johnson.  At this point any team we play knows they are going to have to match that.  This bodes if we ever become good enough to get into the playoffs because you have to ride out the ups and downs in those games.  

[DABEARSDABOMB]

5 hours ago, adam said:

The Bears are 5-3 playing at home (2-1), and the Giants are 2-7 (0-5 on the road), yet the Bears are only favored by 3? I fear that the refs will be heavily involved in this game. 

This shouldn't be a close game. Without Skattebo, the Giants leading rusher was Dart. So I would hope this makes it a little easier for the defense. I am going with Bears 30-17. 

They have had some good games with Dart and D is still banged up pretty good. I hope you are right - would be nice to get a comfortable W - with that said - I just want them to keep improving and grinding. Play your best game of the season Chicago!!! 

[adam]

8 hours ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

They have had some good games with Dart and D is still banged up pretty good. I hope you are right - would be nice to get a comfortable W - with that said - I just want them to keep improving and grinding. Play your best game of the season Chicago!!! 

Giants defense is 27th in EPA/Play and 31st against the run. They allow 5.5 YPC. It seems like the Bears will be able to control the ball and the clock, and throw when the defense starts bringing that extra guy into the box. The Giants offense is 22nd for EPA/Play, but a lot of that was Skattebo who is on IR. They probably are closer to 25-30th now without him. Robinson+Slayton is 3-4 levels below Chase+Higgins. The current DB group should be up to that challenge.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

The 'eye test' told me that in at least the last couple of games, the Bears have struggled in the Red Zone.  What is encouraging is that in at least yesterday's game, Johnson made an adjustment and weighed more on the running game and introduced trickery to score the Bears first TD.  Prior to yesterday, 'the Bears were scoring 3.9 yards per red zone drive.'  'They were ranked 26th in the NFL and converted 5 TDs of 16 red zone conversions in the four games prior.' Yesterday they scored TDs in 4 out of 6 red zone trips. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46795357/nfl-bears-caleb-williams-red-zone#:~:text="The red zone struggles have,points per red zone drive.
 

https://www.wlwt.com/article/bengals-bears-higgins-caleb-williams-47-42-shootout/69229138#:~:text=games under .500.-,Chicago leaves the banks of the Ohio River totaling 576,-winning 58-yard touchdown.&text=November 2%2C 2025-,According to NFL's Next Gen Stats%2C Cincinnati's defense missed a,of which led the NFL.

[BearFan PHX]

2 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

The 'eye test' told me that in at least the last couple of games, the Bears have struggled in the Red Zone.  What is encouraging is that in at least yesterday's game, Johnson made an adjustment and weighed more on the running game and introduced trickery to score the Bears first TD.  Prior to yesterday, 'the Bears were scoring 3.9 yards per red zone drive.'  'They were ranked 26th in the NFL and converted 5 TDs of 16 red zone conversions in the four games prior.' Yesterday they scored TDs in 4 out of 6 red zone trips. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46795357/nfl-bears-caleb-williams-red-zone#:~:text="The red zone struggles have,points per red zone drive.
 

https://www.wlwt.com/article/bengals-bears-higgins-caleb-williams-47-42-shootout/69229138#:~:text=games under .500.-,Chicago leaves the banks of the Ohio River totaling 576,-winning 58-yard touchdown.&text=November 2%2C 2025-,According to NFL's Next Gen Stats%2C Cincinnati's defense missed a,of which led the NFL.

right. one thing thats clear about Johnson is he sees the problems, and does things to fix them. we havent had a coach like that here in my memory. Even Ditka oe Lovie, who were great motivators never showed the flexibility in scheme to fix things so purposefully. what a great coach we have now.

[Stinger226]

Some things need to be ironed out but we are establishing an identity. Pound the ball, play action and score lots of points. 

[Stinger226]

 

[jason]

GOOD BETTER BEST!!

I love that rallying cry. The team really seems to have bonded. Outwardly there is a great locker room culture right now.

[adam]

You need some psychos on your team lol.

[adam]

Another factor in this game is that the Giants will more than likely be sellers at the deadline, so they may have lesser of a team come Sunday. Not that it should matter, the Bears should beat them regardless, but that could be another factor.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

16 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

right. one thing thats clear about Johnson is he sees the problems, and does things to fix them. we havent had a coach like that here in my memory. Even Ditka oe Lovie, who were great motivators never showed the flexibility in scheme to fix things so purposefully. what a great coach we have now.

Ditka and Lovie were different style coaches especially from one another .  And both took the Bears to a Super Bowl.  Johnson’s day is still to come but I think (hope) it will.  

And a little critique of your guy Caleb .  I think a large reason why the team struggles in the Red Zone is because of him.  I noticed that the first TD was a result of Johnson’s trickery and essentially taking the ball out of Williams’ hands … only to give it back to him as a receiving TD.  However, as the game went along, Caleb got better.  And I would hope against the Bengals defense he would.  As the head into the games against tougher opponents I’m hoping both he and Johnson recognize this and focus on his (Williams’) improvement there.  
 

As far as between the 20s, Williams seems to be dialing it in.  Which is a good thing.   

[BearFan PHX]

3 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Ditka and Lovie were different style coaches especially from one another .  And both took the Bears to a Super Bowl.  Johnson’s day is still to come but I think (hope) it will.  

And a little critique of your guy Caleb .  I think a large reason why the team struggles in the Red Zone is because of him.  I noticed that the first TD was a result of Johnson’s trickery and essentially taking the ball out of Williams’ hands … only to give it back to him as a receiving TD.  However, as the game went along, Caleb got better.  And I would hope against the Bengals defense he would.  As the head into the games against tougher opponents I’m hoping both he and Johnson recognize this and focus on his (Williams’) improvement there.  
 

As far as between the 20s, Williams seems to be dialing it in.  Which is a good thing.   

I'm not saying Johnson is better than Ditka or Lovie (not saying he isnt either) but what I am saying is that I don't remember a coach who could so quickly identify issues and then make adjustments. Like the running game before and after the bye week. Johnson knows whats wrong, and he finds ways to fix it. Whether that be with the running game where the fix seems "real" or with resorting to trick plays in the Red Zone. BJ knew we needed touchdowns and not field goals, and he found a way to manufacture them.

As for Williams, I freely admit he is not a finished product, not by a longshot. I wont be happy until he is a top 3 QB. But where he is right now, is on time, and he's doing pretty well despite the mistakes and all that.

He's on pace for over 4,000 yards now, and he has shown the ability to do what it takes to win games at the end.

I agree he needs to do better in the Red Zone for sure. But i also think it's all coming, it just takes time. Im seeing all the indications I need to see to say he is on his way to greatness, but that is not the same thing as already being great.